Extension step-ladder.



0. KLOEP FEB.

EXTENSION STEP LADDER.

(Application filed. Aug. 11, 19001) (No Modal.)

Patented Apr. 30, mm.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rtien.

CHARLES KLOEPFER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

E XTENSlON STEP-LADDER.

SYEOIFICATION formingpart-of Letters Patent No. 672,945, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed August l1, 1900i serial No. 26,630. \Np mocleL. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KLOEPFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Extension Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in extension step-ladders; and the object is to provide a simple and strong construction of step-ladder which when not in use maybe conveniently folded and which nay be quickly and readily converted into a straight ladder capable of adjustment-for the purpose of varying its length.

With the above object in .view the invention consists inthe novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of myinvention used as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a section of the same folded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the meeting ends of the two sections of the ladder when united to form a straight ladder. .Fig. 4 is a partial elevation of said meeting ends adjusted to form a ladder of shorter length. Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating one of the locking devices for connecting the sections.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A and B designate the two sections of the ladder, section A consisting of the sidebars 0, provided with a series of perforations D in longitudinal alinement and with the steps '13). At the bottom of this section of the ladder the diagonal brace-rods F are provided, said rods passing through the side bars of said section and havingtheir ends secured in the lower step. These braces strengthen the ladder and form a broader base, so as to prevent tilting thereof. A double wire Gextends ,7 ,fronnend to end of'each of the side bars of 45 section A, being firmly secured thereto by nails or screws, said wires being used with tall ladders for the purpose of preventing sagging.

Section B consists of the side bars H, connected by the rungs I, the side bars being formed each with a series of perforations J in longitudinal alinement.

K, having their angular outer ends L pr jecting beyond the rear edges of the side he and perforated. Spring bars or catches are positioned in recesses of the side bars at secured at their lower ends to the inuersid of the angle-plates. These spring-bars car pins N intermediate their ends, which pi project through the perforations in the pr jecting portions L of the plates K. i The out ends of the spring-bars are bent to be readi engaged by the hand. When used as a site ladder,the two sections are pivotally united their upper ends by the engagement of t] pins N, carried by the spring-bars of secti A in the first pair of perforations of the Sl( bars of section B. These pins therefore u only serve to unite the sections, but also pivots upon which section B swings.

The upper step of section A is provid with swinging section 0, hinged to the und side of the step and adapted to swing dow wardly. This section is provided with or pieces P, depending below the section at formed with recesses Q to receive the upp rung of section B and prevent said section from spreading when used as a step-ladde These end pieces of the swinging sections a1 formed with inclined surfaces leading to tl recesses or notches, as illustrated.

Secured to the rear edge of one of the ste; of section A are the angle-irons R, havin spring-arms R, carrying outwardly-projec ing pins R S designatesa bracket or she projecting beyond section B and having arrr S extending inwardly and perforated to r ceive the pins of the spring-arms. Thus sai shelf may be readily connected with or di: connected from the angle-irons. The she. is also provided with depending locking p01 tions T, which are provided with notches 1 to engage one of the rungs of sect-ion B, an thus further assist in preventing spreadin of said sections. Thelocking portions ar formed with inclined surfaces leading to sai notches, as set forth in reference to the swing ing section of the upper step. Ecc'entricall pivoted to the inner side of one of the sid bars of section Hand at'a point' above th bracket or shelf is a turn-button U, adapte to engage said bracket and hold same-in engagement'with a rung of section B.

To fold the ladder, the turn-button is moved out of engagement with the bracket and said bracket and swinging section moved forwardly out of engagement with the rungs of section B. This section may then be swung inwardly to rest against section A, the swinging section and bracket dropping downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2. By turning the turn-butt n into engagement with the end of one of the arms of the bracket the sections are securely held in their folded position. Should it be desired to convert the said ladder into a straight ladder, section B is swung upwardly until the locking-pins carried by its catches enter the first pair of perforations of the side bars of section A, when a ladder is formed equal to the combined length of the two sections. Should, however, a ladder of shorter length be'desired, the two pairs of spring-catches are disengaged from the perforations of the side bars and section D lowered until a ladder of the desired height is formed, the pins of thecatches entering the perforations of the sections.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a step-ladder which may be very quickly and readily adjusted to form astraight ladder of a length equal to the combined length of the two sections or adjusted I to form a ladder of shorter length.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim i'- v 1. An extension-ladder comprising two sections, one of said sections provided with series of perforationsinlongitudinalalineinent,

and the other section carrying spring-bars having pins adapted to enter said perforarelative adj ustment,

tions to retain said ladder-sections in their substantially as described.

2. Ariextension step-ladder,comprising two sections having their side bars formed with series of longitudinally-alined perforations, and spring locking members carried by each of said sections, provided with pins adapted to enter the perforations, substantially as described. V

3. An extension step-ladder comprising two sections, and springlocking means carried by each section and adapted to engage the other section at different points, to shorten or lengthen the ladder formed thereby, substantially as described.

4. An extension step-ladder comprising two sections pivoted'together, brackets secured to one of said sections and provided with springarms carrying pins, and a bracket having perforated arms receiving said pins and carrying locking means engaging the other section of the ladder, substantially as described.

5. A ladder comprising two sections, one

of said sections having its side rails perfo-' rated and the other section having its side rails recessed, spring-arms secured in said recesses and projecting therefrom, plates covering said recesses and having perforations formed therein,and pins carried by the springbars, projecting through the perforations of the plates and entering the perforations of the other section of the ladder, substantially as described.

" CHARLES KLOEPFER.

Witnesses:

AMBosY BLEIsKEN, NEIL SHANLEY. 

